Ipswich 55 Campion 0

Ipswich 28 - 6 Braintree

Saturday 9th March 2008

After the disastrous result at Diss the previous week when the Magpies 2nd XV were anilallated due to many injured and unavailable players, were,remarkably, except one, fit to take on Braintree. In such a topsy turvyy season this game had to be won for Ipswich to have any realistic chance of survival in this league. With Braintree only two places above they also needed the points so a real scrap seemed in prospect.
So on a grey windswept afternoon the match commenced, it was pleasing to see Ipswich take the game to their opponents forsing them on to the defensive but their line held and it was not until the 17th minute that the stalemate was broken with Ipswich being awarded a penalty for a ruck offence on the Braintree 22 metre line. In spite of the fierce cross wind stand off Tertius Terblanche was successful with the kick to put his side in front(3- 0).
This lead was shortlived as Ipswich gave away a penality in their own '22' for collapsing a set scrum and the Visitors kicked the goal to level the scores (3 - 3).
Ipswich were again in front when a penalty award for handling in a ruck was compounded by some back chat to the Referee who marched the Visitors back 10 metres giving Terblanche an easier kick and he made no mistake (6 - 3).
On 32 minutes the home side went further ahead from an atacking position scrum half Ian Fraser linked with winger Ryan Potkins from a set piece and he made ground and handed on to Jayden Scott to split the opposing defence and score a good try by the posts, Terblanche failed to add the points (11 - 3), which was the half time score.
Straight from the restart Ipswich had an opportunity to increase their lead through a penalty for killing the balll at a ruck but the kick did not make to mark. Briantree came back into the game and the home side had some defending to do but on 28 minutes Ipswich were caught off side and the Visitors were able to reduce the lead with a successful kick (11 - 6).
Ipswich went on to the attack and from a superb cross kck by Terblanche the Braiintree full back under pressure was forced to touch down in his own in goal area to concede a five metre scrum to Ipswich from which Fraser dummied the defence to create a gap which he ran through to score an unconverted try on rhe right (16 - 6).

Ipswich went further ahead on 32 minutes when an attacking move found Terblanche in space with the
Braintree defence at full stretch showed his pace to beat the left wing and fullback and score another unconverted try in the right corner (21 - 6 ).
The final score came just at the end when yet another handling move resulted in Shawn Elbrow charging to the line between two defenders to touch down by the posts. A change of kicker was made to give lock Darrell Winn, playing his last game before flying out for a tour of duty in Afghanistan to make the conversion (28 - 6) for a very welcome win.
The Ipswich club wish Darrell and our other forces players a safe tour and look forward to welcoming them back in due course.
Next weekend is an International weekend so no game and with following week being Easter the next match is away to Harlow on 29th March with the final two games being Chelmsford at home on 12th April and Norwich away on 19th April please come along and support these crucial matches. Their is a lunch prior to the Chelmsford game come along and make it a bumper occasion. (Book
with Chops at the club).

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